UAA athletes own three nation-leading marks among their four automatic-qualifying marks for the NCAA Division II track and field championships, plus another 21 provisional qualifying marks as the Seawolves head to a competition in California this weekend.
UAA's women are ranked No. 10 among Division II teams and its men check in at No. 15. Both squads will compete Saturday in the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego, where more than 1,500 athletes are expected.
Seawolves senior Joyce Chelimo leads Division II women with the fastest times this season in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, and both automatically qualify her for nationals. Chelimo's 5K time of 15 minutes, 59.55 seconds is a UAA record and the third-fastest in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history, and her 33:14.41 in the 10,000 is a UAA and GNAC record.
UAA sophomore Caroline Kurgat ranks No. 2 in Division II with a 10K time of 33:38.30, also an automatic qualifier for nationals. Kurgat also ranks No. 7 in Division II in the 5K with her 16:30.85, a provisional qualifier.
Seawolves senior Cody Parker leads Division II men with his automatic-qualifying javelin throw of 234 feet, 7 inches.
Additionally, Seawolves own five other marks that rank inside the top 10 nationally and are provisional qualifiers.
Sophomore Nathan Kimchumba sits No. 5 in the men's 800 in a school-record 1:49.67. Senior Cody Thomas is ranked No. 6 in the decathlon (7,079 points), sophomore Henry Cheseto is No. 8 at 10K (29:36.07), and the 4x400 relay team of sophomore Liam Lindsay, freshman Nicholas Taylor, junior Adam Commandeur and Thomas rank No. 8 (3:10.60).
Also, junior Jamie Ashcroft ranks No. 9 in the 100 meters (11.70).